Those efforts, according to a Saginaw Township
Police Department press release, saw 17 people arrested on shoplifting charges
and more than $5,000 in merchandise recovered.

"This cooperative effort will hopefully send a
message to thieves that we take crimes against our business community
seriously," Saginaw Township Chief of Police Donald Pussehl stated in the
press release.

"If you plan on committing a crime against our
businesses, we will hold you accountable."

The sting was conducted by the agencies of Saginaw
Township Police Department, the Saginaw County Sheriff's Office and the Michigan
State Police on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 8 and 9.

In what police describe as a "shoplifting
blitz," officers give loss prevention staff police radios so they can
contact the law enforcement agencies directly and ensure a swift response,
according to the press release.

"Every year that we do these shoplifting
stings, we see a sharp decrease in the parking lot-related crimes that we used
to deal with, such as larceny from autos and purse snatchings," Chris
Fredenburg, a crime prevention specialist with the Saginaw Township Police Department,
stated in the release.

"We have broken into the local criminal network
and they know that we mean business in our retail districts. Crime stops
here."

More stings by the Saginaw Township Police
Department are planned for the near future.